Tag Archives: Give Your Heart A Break

A big congrats goes out to “Here” by 19-year-old Alessia Cara, which is on track to become the new #1 at CHR/Top 40 radio this weekend. It’s a huge moment for the Canadian singer, as she becomes the first act of 2016 to hit the top with their debut single. (It comes from her first album, Know-It-All, which recently reached the top ten.) However, this chart-topper also comes with a bit of a twist. “Here” tops the pop radio chart in its 26th week in the top 40, which is a new longevity record for the slowest rise to #1 on CHR radio in terms of top 40 weeks. Yes, that speaks more to the format’s turnover than the song, but it certainly raises a red flag that needs to be addressed. Do we really want songs spending 30 or 35 weeks in the top 40 to get to #1? I don’t think so.

Though Cara’s multi-Platinum hit may hold a new record, one that someday may not be hers, it wasn’t too long ago that other cuts were crawling up the top 40 and landing at #1. What slow-moving songs could those be? You’ll get through this list gradually…

25 weeks to #1“Give Your Heart A Break”, Demi Lovato (2012)
Lovato’s track was never the strongest seller at the time it was active, but it did ride a series of very positive callout scores to #1 on the pop radio chart in early September 2012, nearly six months after it first entered in mid-March. It remains her biggest hit here.

Green’s single initially peaked at #16 in October during a nine-week run, then fell out of the top 40 quickly. Then, it was relisted in late December after it began gaining again, and by the first week of April, it spent its lone frame at the top. It’s his only #1 thus far.

Goulding’s first U.S. hit reached the top 20 at Hot AC radio by January 2012, but was sent recurrent in late February with a minor spin loss. It reappeared in late May (halfway up the top 30) as it slowly made its way to #1 on the CHR radio listing in mid-August.

Cherry’s biggest hit is the only one to appear from the Radio & Records archives, which includes a two-week period of frozen data during the holidays. Given the #25/26 weeks recurrent rule at the time, it spent a long 37 weeks in the top 40 prior to its removal.

It’s not easy having three singles peak at #17 between 2003 and 2006, but the Pennsylvania pop performer and pop radio seemed to have a falling-out for a few years in the 2000’s. Luckily, the format held her “Hand” until the single climbed to #1 in May 2007.

After two of his tracks tanked at radio during two different chart runs, “Life Of The Party” and “Something Big”, Mendes’s touring gave his third single growing sales gains and positive callout scores. In early November, it finally stitched up the number one spot.

For other lessons in longevity and much more, follow the blog by using the tab below and check out the “Get Social!” page to find PGTC on Facebook, Twitter and more.